Press release

Brakocevic back but can't prevent defeat

After playing two sets in the loss to Italy Brakocevic said: “Everything was normal, I didn’t have pain. I’m really happy with how things are going.”

Sapporo, Japan, November 13, 2011 - Serbia star and captain Jovana Brakocevic made her first proper appearance at the FIVB Women’s World Cup 2011, returning from a wrist injury, after playing two sets in Serbia’s straight sets defeat at the hands of Italy in Sapporo on Sunday.

Brackocevic, who had surgery on her left wrist last month as part of a "cleaning procedure," scored eight points in the first set, followed by five in the second however the top scorer of this year’s FIVB World Grand Prix and Most Valuable Player of both the European League and the European Championship in 2011 couldn't stop Italy winning the first two sets, at which point she was rested on the bench for the third.

The 23-year-old had only previously made a cameo appearance in a two-point rally during the second set of Serbia’s match against Germany during round two.

“I’m practicing almost normal and today I had a chance to play two sets and I think that was more than fine for my hand,” she said. “Everything was normal. I didn’t have pain. I’m really happy with how things are going.”

The slender outside hitter of 1.96m had previously explained that the injury occurred during the World Grand Prix during training.

“I actually hurt my wrist digging for a ball during the Grand Prix finals but I continued playing,” Brakocevic recalled. “Then, during the training period for the World Cup I was hit twice very hard in a critical point while blocking. That’s when I decided to opt for the surgery.”

Brakocevic, the best spiker of the European League for the past two seasons and Most Valuable Player in this year’s European Championship, is signed to play in Japan League with the JT Marvelous team. So the interest in watching her in action is understandable.Last season she performed for Guangzhou Evergrande in the 361° Chinese Women's Volleyball League after playing for three seasons for Spes Volley Conegliano of the Italian League.

After Sunday’s defeat, Serbia are placed seventh with a 3-5 win-loss record and 11 points.